The studentship is funded by the ESRC South Coast Doctoral Training Partnership (SCDTP), a collaboration between the universities of Portsmouth, Southampton and Brighton.

The studentship is available to UK students only and covers tuition fees and an annual maintenance grant of £15,009 (2019/20 RCUK rate).

The work will look at:

How circular migration affects the wellbeing, citizenship and identities of CEE migrant families

How circular migrant families’ senses of citizenship and wellbeing are impacted by broader politics on free movement and the potential results of Britain leaving the EU

This PhD project examines a relatively new trend in migration patterns of people from Central and Eastern Europe in which families and their extended networks move back and forth across borders - together and separately - in pursuit of labour opportunities.

Known as ‘circular migration’, this PhD will use close-up, qualitative research methods to understand how circular migration affects the lives of the families involved, including (but not limited to) their sense of wellbeing and integration into differing nation state environments, cultures and systems.

Entry Requirements

You must be a UK resident and hold a good honours degree (2:1 and above) from a recognised higher education institution.

Please note, if you're applying without a Master's qualification containing a substantial Social Sciences methods component, you may be required to complete a relevant Master's beforehand. The Master's will be fully funded by the SCDTP and will be run from the University of Southampton.

English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 with no component score below 6.0.

You should have an interest in inequality/minority/migrant groups and in developing a PhD topic that includes an understanding of the broad policy context, along with the voices of migrant family members themselves.

Excellent communication and analytical skills are required, both to listen to the voices of migrants as well as being able to look at the broad context through understanding policies and trends, producing work that will challenge policy-makers to think through how the political environment affects lived realities.

How to Apply

Before you apply, you'll need a University supervisor to support your SCDTP application – so please contact the project supervisors before you submit an application.

The project will require you to discuss possible methods and research design as well as detailing how your skills, background and research interests match the project. It is therefore very important that you discuss the project with the supervisor.

Full instructions are given on the SCDTP application form and there are different word limits depending on whether you are applying for a 4-year Master's or 3-year PhD.

Please note: you will need to submit an online application to the University of Portsmouth plus an application for funding to the SCDTP. For more details, visit the SCDTP website.

When applying to the University, please quote project code: MLAS4340119